Survey: Israeli Public Confident in IDF

Israeli citizens are more satisfied with the functioning of the defense establishment, especially of the IDF (Zahal), according to a recent study by the Haifa and Ben Gurion Universities

Date: 04/02/2010, 3:57 PM Author: Arnon Ben-Dror

According to a public survey conducted annually by joint researchers from the Haifa and Ben Gurion Universities, there is an increase in the level of satisfaction with the defense establishment among the citizens of Israel. This is the most significant improvement in 2009 compared to 2008 between the security forces, recorded in the IDF (Zahal).

The study conducted by two professors, Prof. Eran Vigoda-Gadot, head of the School of Political Science at Haifa University, and Prof. Shlomo Mizrachi of Bar Ilan University’s Public Policy Department, shows that the level of trust in the IDF (Zahal) is 3.89 out of 5 (compared to 3.61 in 2008) and 4.01 (compared to 3.88 in 2008) in the Israel Security Forces (ISA).

In addition to that, the level of trust among public sector personnel of the security forces increased dramatically, once again the largest increase is recorded in the IDF (Zahal): level of trust among regular IDF (Zahal) soldiers is 4.08 (3.89 in 2008); IDF (Zahal) commanders and officers – 3.94 (3.75 in 2008); ISA agents – 4.02 (3.93 in 2008); Mossad – 4.08 (3.90 in 2008).

After the Second Lebanon War, there was a decline in public confidence in the IDF (Zahal), which was reported by various studies of this type. However, recently, especially in light of the successful operations of security forces during Operation Cast Lead, the satisfaction with security systems has improved. The growing confidence in the IDF (Zahal) has attributed mainly, according to researchers, to the physical rehabilitation of the army, and setting clear moral norms between the lines.